Victoria C. Woodhull

Three months after establishing her brokerage Woodhull announced her intention to run for presidential office. Her announcement resulted in a flurry of speculation and excitement. She and Tennie commenced publication of their journal “Woodhull and Claflin’s Weekly” as a campaign sheet. The paper grew into an expose, the first muckraking of its kind. They revealed the agendas of corrupt politicians and the scams and scandals of the financial elite. The sisters used the paper to construct what would become a radical platform of reform. The firm belief that woman was the equal of her male counterpart in all aspects of life was firmly espoused, and extraordinary individuals who evidenced this belief were chronicled on a weekly basis.

In 1871 Woodhull spoke before the National Women’s Suffrage Associations’ third annual convention. In her speech she asserted that women had obtained the right to vote through the passing of the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments, which granted all citizens the right to vote. She became the foremost figure in the suffrage movement with the simplicity of her argument. She was permitted to present her case before Congress and her ensuing argument was received with respect and admiration. But she was nearly half a century ahead of her time.

The Equal Rights Party nominated Victoria C. Woodhull as their presidential candidate in 1872. The nomination was met with severe reprisals, both personal and economic. The platform the party publicized involved the nationalization of land; woman’s right to live, love and work independently of her male counterpart; the reduction of profit by revising pricing to reflect the actual cost of production; a more just representation of wages as compared to capital gain; the freedom of the press and freedom of speech. (Puz, Susan Kullman)

Woodhull opposed Republican candidate Grant and Democratic candidate Greeley. Her opposition was met with near panic of an impending revolution. She and her family were unable to secure housing in Manhattan and the publication of her journal came to an abrupt halt for four months. When publication resumed Woodhull retaliated against her critics by writing two infamous articles. The first article cast doubt upon the sterling character of Reverend Henry Ward Beecher. It lambasted him as a cuckolder of his once friend Theodore Tilton. Supporters of Beecher had Woodhull thrown in jail for slander. Her second article had exposed the lecherous behavior of Luther Challis, a prominent broker who bragged of his sexual exploits

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